Celebrity Cars

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Khris Bharath – September 18, 2025

Roger Federer and Mercedes-Benz Revive San Francisco’s Jo...

What happens when you have a luxury automaker, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, and one of tennis’s most celebrated tournaments team up? Well, in San Francisco, the answer is six freshly resurfaced public tennis courts at John McLaren Park. This is the latest chapter of Neon Legacy, a joint initiative launched in 2021 by Roger Federer and Mercedes-Benz to make tennis more accessible and leave something tangible behind in every host city of the Laver Cup (named after Australian tennis player, Rodney George Laver, who has 11 Grand Slam singles titles to his name). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laver Cup (@lavercup) For the San Francisco project, Neon Legacy partnered with the Laver Cup and the USTA Foundation. Together, they delivered upgrades that follow similar projects in London, Vancouver, and Berlin, and San Francisco now joins a global map of communities benefiting from this model of corporate-athlete collaboration. Earlier this week, Federer was joined at the event by former professional tennis player and current Laver Cup captain Yannick Noah and San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie, and several prominent figures from the Bay Area, who cut the ribbon alongside children from local tennis programs. These spaces are meant to inspire the next generation of young athletes who may otherwise have limited access to the sport and also host a series of programs. “Tennis shaped my life, and I hope this project inspires the next generation.” - Roger Federer , 20-time Grand Slam Champion, Co-founder of the Laver Cup After the Golden Gate Park, John McLaren Park is San Francisco’s second-largest public park, and before this initiative, its courts needed attention. For local families, these new resurfaced courts and revamped facilities will reduce barriers to entry, and for a luxury brand like Mercedes-Benz, it is making a social impact at the community level. The German automaker is also continuing its tradition of supplying G-Class SUVs as team cars, along with an exclusive shuttle fleet for officials and select guests. With the 8th Edition of the Laver Cup set for Chase Center this weekend (September 19-21), expect the city to draw international attention, and while the Swiss Maestro’s presence alone has elevated the project’s visibility, the structural changes on the ground should outlast this headline moment. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale " width="680"> Images: Mercedes-Benz

A man exits a car as people gather to take photos of a parked blue Mercedes-AMG One sports car on the street in Monaco, possibly hoping to spot George Russell nearby.

By Khris Bharath – April 28, 2025

George Russell Stuns Monaco With His New Mercedes-AMG One

The streets of Monaco are no stranger to exotic, supercars or hypercars, but when one of Mercedes’ current Formula 1 drivers, George Russell, pulled up at an upscale restaurant in town, behind the wheel of his brand new Mercedes-AMG One, everyone from seasoned locals to enthusiastic tourists took notice. Fresh from " title="YouTube video" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen> and finished in a stunning shade of dark blue, this AMG One is easily identifiable as Russell’s as it bears his race number ‘63’. It was seen later in the day, at the world-famous Casino Square, Monte Carlo. In development since 2017, Mercedes-Benz finally began deliveries of the AMG One in 2023. Other famous owners include F1 drivers like Nico Rosberg, Sir Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard, Valtteri Bottas, and Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg. Under the skin, the Mercedes-AMG One packs a modified version of the 1.6-liter turbo V6 hybrid engine that was used in the Mercedes-Benz F1W06 between 2014-16. With extensive use of carbon fiber in its construction, the curb weight is 3,737 pounds. Paired with four electric motors, the overall system has a combined 1,063 horsepower. 60 mph comes up in 2.9 seconds, and top speed is 219 mph. Given the extreme aero package made up of several active elements, including front diffuser flaps, a two-part wing, that unmistakable shark fin, and the hybrid assist, the AMG One currently sits at the top of the leaderboard at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife with a record-breaking time of 6:29.090 minutes, making it the first production car to break the 6:30 barrier. Amidst the glitz and glamor of a city where Bugattis, La Ferraris, and Koenigseggs are the norm, Russell’s AMG-One was certainly able to command attention, offering a presence comparable to unicorns like the CLK GTR. Priced between $2.7 - $ 2.8 million before options, only 275 units of the Mercedes-AMG One will be built. " width="680"> View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Image Source: Euro Travel Monaco (YouTube)

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 20, 2024

Roger Federer x Mercedes-Benz Inaugurate New Tennis Wall ...

Roger Federer and Mercedes-Benz partner to enhance youth sports in Berlin. Neon Legacy is the name of an ongoing collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and tennis legend Roger Federer, which originated in 2021. Its latest project is a refurbished sports area, including a new tennis wall in Berlin. Part of the “Schlupfwinkel” youth club, the wall sports a floral mural from Rommy Gonzalez. Last year, Neon Legacy renovated a street art tennis court in London, and the new project works towards the same mission of youth sports advocacy in Berlin. The project was created between Federer and Mercedes-Benz with the mission of developing youth tennis talent and giving back to communities all over the world. Federer himself says that training with a tennis wall was paramount to developing the skills he needed to build his tennis legacy, and now youth in Berlin with dreams of playing tennis can do the same with the new wall from Neon Legacy. The project was unveiled ahead of the Laver Cup, taking place in Berlin soon. Since it started in 2017, Mercedes-Benz has sponsored the Laver Cup, and is providing Team Europe and Team World with electric G-Class vehicles for the competition. In addition, officials and selected guests will have access to a fleet of all-electric Mercedes-Benz shuttle vehicles. With a new tennis wall and the upcoming Laver Cup, Mercedes-Benz and Roger Federer are building excitement for the sport of tennis in Berlin. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Image Source: Mercedes-Benz

Lewis Hamilton feiert den Erfolg der STEM Academy beim Mulberry Schools Trust Lewis Hamilton celebrates STEM Academy success at the Mulberry Schools Trust

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 01, 2024

Lewis Hamilton Will Join Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team In 2025

F1’s most successful driver is making a groundbreaking move. Lewis Hamilton is one of the biggest names in Formula 1 and racing as a whole, and for good reason. With 7 world titles, the last of which he won in 2020, he’s tied with Michael Schumacher for having the most out of any driver in the prestigious and historic racing series. His move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013 was a shock at the time, but with the team, he’s built a legacy as one of the greatest racers ever, with an incredible F1 dominance that Red Bull has eclipsed in the past few years. However, things are about to change again, as Hamilton is be leaving Mercedes to join Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. Ferrari, with a long-standing and historic presence in the sport, has renewed its contract with Charles Leclerc, but Carlos Sainz’s contract with the team is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season. Rumors of Hamilton joining the Prancing Horse have swirled for some time, but now the perfect storm has brewed for the shocking change to finally take place. With Hamilton, the most successful driver in F1 history with 103 Grand Prix wins, joining Ferrari for the 2025 season, the landscape of the Formula 1 world will see the biggest change that it has undergone in over a decade, and what happens as a result is sure to be exciting. Shop F1 Merch View this post on Instagram A post shared by Scuderia Ferrari (@scuderiaferrari)

MBUX SOUND DRIVE auf der CES 2024 // MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience at CES 2024

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 09, 2024

Mercedes-AMG x will.i.am Launch New MBUX SOUND DRIVE Musi...

The partnership between will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG continues. As a musician and artist known for the avant-garde, will.i.am and Mercedes-Benz have come together to create some head-turning efforts in the automotive world. Mercedes-Benz has a flair for technology, innovation, and automotive luxury, and together with will.i.am’s sense of creativity and their joint passion for futurism, their collaborations have pushed the boundaries of what can happen at the intersection of the automotive and art worlds. Revealed at the 2024 CES in Las Vegas, will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG have announced yet another high-tech addition to their collaborative portfolio of projects: the MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience. The experience will blend the experience of music and driving in an unprecedented way, allowing the music itself to react to the way the car is being driven, and turning the car into a “virtual musical instrument.” Advanced software and sensing will gather information from actions like regenerative braking, steering, and acceleration, and express them musically inside the car, making for an immersive and emotional driving experience like no other. Artists around the world will be able to create tracks and represent the MBUX SOUND DRIVE experience through any music genre. The rollout of this new feature is set to begin in mid-2024, and it will be available for Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz cars with the second-generation MBUX system. Currently at CES, the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV and Mercedes-AMG EQE Sedan are available to be test driven to give visitors a taste of the new experience, and bring together music and driving in uncanny harmony. View All Mercedes-Benz Vehicles For Sale Image Source: Mercedes-Benz

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 25, 2023

Lewis Hamilton Collaborates With Artist Hajime Sorayama O...

It's safe to say that everyone could tell which Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver was Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton isn't just a force to be reckoned with on the Formula 1 circuit, racking up championships with exceptional skill; he's also a style icon who turns heads in the fashion world. With an eye for style that's as sharp as his racing talents, Lewis has opened himself up to creative collaborations with brands and artists that share the same vision. Being a fan of his art and the superrealism style he portrays, Lewis Hamilton recently worked closely with Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama on a 1-of-1 racing helmet for the Japanese Grand Prix that took place this past weekend. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 helmet features a head-turning polished chrome livery, deriving inspiration from Lewis Hamilton's +44 clothing line and passion project. The futuristic look and feel resemble Sorayama's past creations, whether it be a highly-detailed canvas painting or a breathtaking sculpture. The design comes complete with matching sponsor decals that almost blend and disappear behind its bold chrome base. Although Lewis Hamiton and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team crossed the finish line in Japan in the fifth position, his Hajime Sorayama collaboration helmet definitely stood out amongst all the competitors and race fans in attendance on Sunday. View all Mercedes-Benz models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) Source: @lewishamilton/@hajimesorayamaofficial

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 22, 2023

Mercedes-Benz Extends Its 15-Year Partnership With Tennis...

The world renowned Grand Slam champion remains loyal to the Mercedes-Benz brands and its values. Showcasing skill and success on the tennis court, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer exudes the same performance, excellence, and expertise as Mercedes-Benz. Extending his 15-year partnership with Mercedes-Benz, Federer is putting his fame to good use by focusing on social impact through the Neon Legacy initiative. Designed to benefit society and especially the next generation of tennis players, Neon Legacy has already made its mark by renovating a public tennis court in Abbey Wood, London. On September 19th, Roger Federer continued this mission by interacting with young tennis enthusiasts in Vancouver just ahead of the Laver Cup. Federer and Mercedes-Benz are committed to enforcing projects that benefit communities worldwide. It's worth noting that Vancouver is this year’s host city for the Laver Cup. An annual tennis competition features Europe's top players going head-to-head with Team World's finest. Mercedes-Benz has been providing a fleet of vehicles, including special two Mercedes-EQE 500 4MATIC SUVs for players, officials, and select guests. This extended partnership between Federer and Mercedes-Benz promises a brighter future for communities worldwide. View all Mercedes-Benz models currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Mercedes-Benz For Sale Source: Mercedes-Benz